DECATUR, Ill.— A new international cooking series for teens starting in January wants to see if the saying ''strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet" can be applied to new foods, too. The group will meet every other week for six weeks starting in mid-January.
Led by 4-H educators from University of Illinois Extension, Culture, Cuisine, and Conversation: Travel the World with 4-H Without Leaving Home will be offered on Sundays at 4 p.m. The spring session will begin on January 17 and end on March 28. The group will virtually explore the food and lifestyles of people in different countries such as Japan, Finland, Brazil, Australia, South Korea, and Thailand.
“We have connected with people who live in other countries to show their kitchens and learn about food customs," says 4-H Educator Jamie Boas." This program is great for teens who want to cook and experience other cultures from their own home.”
Teens will receive the recipe for a cultural dish ahead of time to prepare for their families. After preparing the recipe of the week, they will come together to watch short videos created by 4-H partners in the country. They will also talk about their experience cooking the dish and discuss things they learned about the culture of the country in an hour zoom session every other week.
To register, go to https://go.illinois.edu/ccc4-H. Registration is open now until January 5. There is a $10 supply fee through December 15 that will increase to $15 on December 16. For more information, please email Jamie Boas at kleissjm@illinois.edu or call (217)762-2191.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact (217)762-2191. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access need.
Source: Jamie Boas, 4-H Extension Educator, University of Illinois Extension
Writer: Maria Lightner, Marketing & Communications, University of Illinois Extension
ABOUT EXTENSION: Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities.
ABOUT 4-H: Illinois 4-H empowers and prepares Illinois youth for success. University of Illinois Extension provides 4-H programs in every county in Illinois, affecting the lives of 200,000 youth each year through sustained learning clubs, groups, and short-term programming.